About Me

I am a retired Archaeologist. English, now living on the Island of Crete, Greece. I have worked on ancient Minoan pottery in Crete. I like reading books about Archaeology ,Geology, Anthropology History and Autobiography’s. I also like to collect fossils.

Since first writing this post “About Me” I have been studying the Ancient Mycenaean Linear B Script Writings and have gained my first Diploma. I am now at University level hoping to gain a B A degree.

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43 responses to “About Me”

Just stumbled across your blog… Had been looking for stuff related loosely to archaeology for my boy , who’s about to start a course at Glasgow uni of archaeology and classics…. And found this… Really enjoyed the range of your pieces/interests…. Especially on the barkhamstead lighthouse”. .. Look forward to reading more 🙂

I also like archeology, anthropology and geology for several reasons: 1. Because in my country Indonesia lot of heritage. There Borobudur temple in Central Java, which was built in 825, and is one of the 10 wonders of the world. 2. There is a temple in the site Pecandian in West Java, which was built in the 2nd century. Then there are sites in the town of Mojokerto, East Java, famous for its ancient human fossils, Pithecanthropus Mojokertensis. All of that, I use to find my origins, my lineage, and I find my ancestors, more than 100 generations ago …….. Science. there is always a point …. I enjoyed your blog and your posts Ritaroberts …. 🙂

Hello Ritar, I found your blog from your comments about the Gebelein Mummy on British Museum website. I’m a journalism student from City University London. I’m now doing this mummy exhibition story (as an assignment), so I need visitors’ comments and opinions. It’s just for personal use, I promise that I won’t publish it anywhere and I actually nowhere to publish even though I want to. 🙂 Could you please do me a favour to talk more about the interacted exhibition? How do you feel when you you used the technique to look at inside mummy? What have you learned? Thank you very much! If it is possible, please reply me before today’s noon (19th November). I can’t be more grateful!

Dear Rita – The Abingdon Area Archaeological and Historical Society (AAAHS) are looking for an illustration to advertise our forthcoming talk on production, distribution and use of salt in the British Iron Age. Do you have the copyright on the image you used in your Dec 2011 article on Iron Age salt making in Droitwich and if so may we use it for our poster?
Sally

Hi! I’m studying about old european civilization’s religion, and I’ve found some informations about a ritual party in Skoteino cave. It’s been hard for me to find informations in English about it. Can you give me some information? Your blog is amazing!
Thanks

Hello Marta. If you GOOGLE.. Aegean Prehistoric Archaeology Lesson 15 Minoan Religion, you should find the information you are looking for about Ritual Eating and Drinking. There is lots about caves also Skoteino Cave. Let me know if you need more.

Hi Rita! I am a student, and I am doing some research for a project. Throughout your work, have you ever come across a type of clay or ceramic called pygg? I’ve never heard of such thing, and I wondered if you have either. Thanks!

Hi, Marie, Yes ! A pygg is a type of orange clay, once used for making pottery in the forms of jars. A Piggy bank was originally a pygg jar. Later the word “pygg) became less common and its sound was interpreted as ‘Pig; only then did piggy banks actually begin to be made in the shape of a pig. These were made for people to be able to save their money in. I hope this answers your question. If you have any other query I will be happy to answer the best I can. Good luck with your project.

when i was very young i had a very secret desire to be an archaeologist, i never told anyone and never followed up on it preferring to draw and paint. i imagine it’s incredibly rewarding. just wanted to visit a bit to ty for liking my poetry Rita, encouragement is always really appreciated.

Hello there Rita,
This is Liz from Ancient-Origins.net, a popular archaeology and history site.
I’m hoping we can connect about your great blog. We feel that our audience would be interested in the information your website has to offer and so we would like to place a link to your website on our page.
Please either contact me through WordPress profile, or send us a line at the website.
Subject : Liz Connect

Hello Liz, Thanks you for your nice comments regarding my blog and your invitation to link with you. My blog address is as followshttp://WWW.RITAROBERTS.WORDPRESS.COM but you are quite welcome to re blog any posts which are of interest to you. I see you have a post about the Phaistos disc of which the translation is still unsolved. However, I am currently studying the Minoan Linear B ancient script writings which is a very interesting subject. I will check out your blog again.

Hello, I came across your blog after entering the term blue dash into Google. Glad I did, as I found many examples of antique porcelain and learned more about the subject from all the information and photographs you provided. However, I am back to my original search, the blue dash. I have a beautiful antique dish that has a blue dash as the only hallmark. Would you happen to know of any maker that used a blue dash as a mark? Any information greatly appreciated.

Hello Kathryn, sorry for the delay in answering your enquiry. With regard to your antique dish.- Firstly what is the colour of your dish and is there any other mark besides the blue dash on the bottom. Look closely inside the rim for any initials or numbers. Is it blue and white. If you can describe it a little more maybe I can help. Good luck.

Hello. I have enjoyed reading your blog and hope to read more. I appreciate you giving us the benefit of your knowledge. I have been trying to research my local area and its prehistoric connections, which is a long-term job. Please could you help by telling me the approx age of undecorated flat-based Beaker pots in England and whether intact finds are common? I’m finding it hard to answer this myself. Also, what would be the age of flat-based collared Beaker pots with simple decoration (one with comb/dots around the top and one with simple impressed chevrons all over)? They have a crude appearance compared with the ‘smart’ ones I’ve seen online and so I image they are earlier – would this be correct? These were with inhumations on the NE coast that also contained flints – sadly everything was destroyed except the pots. Do you know anything at all about so-called “giant” inhumations in GB or northern Europe? One inhumation here with the pots and flints was of a “giant” in a very large cist made from solid black slabs of local stone described as having an unusual skull (all destroyed bar the pots). I have only so far found another like this described in similar terms in Avebury of a very large male (also destroyed) described as having bones as robust as an ox. Anything you could tell me would help. I am continuing my research into the fascinating Beaker people – especially the “giant” ones and their origin.

Sorry, I didn’t find a contact form to write to you, so you don’t need to post this message on your blog.
I wanted to ask you if you know where I can find a photo of the tablets where the name of Dionysus was first read on them.
I have found several places on the internet they write about it, for two tablets from Pylos and one from Knossos, but never seen an actual photo of them.
I’m doing my research about Dionysus and the origins of his teachings and I would really appreciate your help if you know about these tablets.

Hello Fotis, I have translated some of the Linear B tablets referring to the dieties but unfortunately not of Dionysus as yet. However, I have one or two connections so will try for some information and let you know. If you would like to leave me your e mail address I can contact you there.
Best wishes
Rita.

Just started a challenge called 100 pots in 100 days where I am using the history of pottery to influence my designs and try to make people more aware of the fantastic resources we have in the UK. I stumbled across your blog while I was researching and have linked to your information. Thank you so much for your time and effort.

I am just at the start and def not a historian or archaeologist. Just what I needed. Very readable.